Educational Research: Fundamentals for the Consumer

by James H. McMillan

This book educates students to become intelligent consumers of educational research and introduces basic research principles to those who may eventually use research in their work. Principles for conducting research and criteria for evaluating its overall credibility are presented in a concise manner, with numerous excerpts from published studies, to enable students to learn to read, understand, and evaluate research, and judge the usefulness of the findings for educational practice. There is extensive use of aides to facilitate student learning, including chapter objectives, roadmaps and concept maps, study questions, consumer tips, over 150 examples from published articles (also includes full length articles), and author reflections. The Sixth Edition includes a more extensive presentation of experimental and quasi-experimental design, consistent with the current emphasis on conducting "scientific research," qualitative data analysis, effect size, and two new chapters devoted to mixed-method studies and action research.

Genres: Education, Grad School, Nonfiction, Teaching, Research

415 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[k.wing · Rating 3 out of 5]

McMillan may be personally turned on by research. This is all conjecture, but I have a textbook worth of data to back up my claims. By synthesizing the quantitative and qualitative data, this confirms my hypothesis.

[Brandi Nicholauson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have the 6th edition. McMillan breaks down every facet of educational research. Particularly useful if you are going to conduct any research, or want to better understand how research is written. Not the most exciting read, but useful.

[Kitchengrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for learning research terms and process. It can't help that it's a painfully boring topic. :P

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the kind of thing you'd read for fun, obviously ;) but clear, specific, and detailed. One of few books I kept after grad school.

[Dallin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really dry subject, but the author does a good job of presenting useful information.

[Christa who loves the library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text book used for -- TRDEV 586 -- Educational Research Designs -- Spring 2015